Ceecee's Reviews > How to Solve Your Own Murder

3.5 rounded up

At the Castle Knoll Fair in Dorset in 1965, a prediction from a fortune teller dictates Frances Adam’s life. She is told her “future contains dry bones“, a grim prophecy indeed, or should that be Grimm? Frances spends many years taking every precaution she can to prevent an untimely demise. Sixty years on in the present day, Annie Adams, Frances‘s great niece is trying to become a mystery writer. She is summoned to Frances‘s lawyers in Castle Knoll to discuss the considerable estate and fortune. Annie travels to Dorset as requested, and along with other potential beneficiaries, she is taken to Gravestone Estate, Frances‘s mansion and grounds. There they find her dead. Has she been murdered exactly as foretold sixty years ago or is it natural causes? Initially, the authorities decide she has died a natural death, but further examination proves that she has indeed been murdered. Annie has already decided she needs to detect, however, she is presented with a very good reason to sleuth when Frances’s will is read, and she only has a limited time to come up with the goods. The story alternates between the present day and the past via Frances’s journal which gives us a good idea of her personality and the shenanigans of the late 1960s.

This has a good premise and and a great Christieque setting for the unfolding drama. It’s very much in the vein of a Queen Agatha cozy mystery with murder and mayhem on the agenda. There’s plenty going on in a packed plot with odd characters, inheritance issues, riddles, games, and challenges, there are numerous suspects to say nothing of the original prediction which hangs over Frances‘s life and dictates her actions. The detecting race against time that Annie is engaged in reveals numerous potential motives, also secrets by the truckload with accompanying lies, alongside threats and betrayals. It’s a long list in fact, which perhaps makes the plot more complicated than it needs to be. I do like the competitive race against time idea as it does give an edge to the storytelling, which inevitably leads to a path of danger at every return.

Apart from a somewhat overcrowded plot, there are lots of characters to get your head around, some are not especially interesting, but also not very well developed. Whilst I admire Annie’s persistence, she’s not in the same calibre as say a Miss Marple and although she doesn’t have a bad nose for detecting, she does need to rein in her enthusiasm which will mean she’ll make less unwise decisions.

Overall, the cozy mystery genre is a packed market place these days, and whilst this is an engaging read has the author done enough to stand out in the crowd?? However, if you like cozy mysteries it is worth checking out.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books, for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.